Chunky Uinta Ground Squirrel – Nikon D500, f10, 1/400, ISO 640, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Last Friday I couldn’t resist photographing a chunky Uinta Ground Squirrel I found standing next to a road high in the Wasatch Mountains. There were clouds overhead so I had low light conditions to deal with. But I know that soon all of these ground squirrels will head underground. At the time I didn’t feel that I had gotten all of the photos I wanted of these furry creatures this year. I felt compelled to photograph it.
This Uinta Ground Squirrel looked as if it had eaten every bit of grass it had found for a week or more.
Uinta Ground Squirrel in low light conditions – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I took a long series of images of this squirrel even though the light was low because I don’t know how much longer they will be above ground. I am already hearing and seeing fewer of these ground squirrels than I did even two weeks ago.
When these grounds squirrels are underground I miss them. I miss their high pitched calls, seeing them scurrying around the mountain slopes and poking their heads out of their burrows. So when they are above ground I try to take photos of them every chance I can.
Every year I learn a little bit more about Uinta Ground Squirrels because I take the time to observe them while I take their photos. It is never a waste of my time.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Uinta Ground Squirrel photos plus facts and information about this species.
Click here to see a five minute video about how climate change is affecting Uinta Ground Squirrels in Utah.
WOW, he/she is a fat little bugger !! I never knew that they estivate through the summer !! Is that to escape the heat of the summer months ??
Adorable! Glad you got to spend some quality time with this cutie. Thanks for sharing the recording too — I would not have recognized their call as mammalian.
Chunky – and beautiful.
Wonderful photos! Yesterday I too thought they were looking chunky. Is it just me or did you notice less overall the last two years? One area looked like it had a colony collapse this year. I hope this year with more moisture and food they will spring back in population.
April, I do think there have been fewer of these ground squirrels in the last two years. I think the coyotes helped keep numbers down in one area because I have seen coyotes there quite often. I hope they spring back too. I adore these squirrels.